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Mark-Almond

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Mark-Almond, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025
Mark–Almond
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1970
FounderJon Mark, Johnny Almond
Headquarters
England
ProductsMusic albums

Mark–Almond was an English pop ensemble with strong jazz influences, active primarily throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s. They were also identified as The Mark-Almond Band. The group’s nucleus was formed by Jon Mark, who served as the lead singer and played multiple instruments including guitar, percussion, and harmonica, alongside Johnny Almond, who contributed saxophone, flute, bass flute, and backing vocals. Their collaborations extended to several musicians, most notably drummer Dannie Richmond, known for his work with jazz bassist Charles Mingus.

Early history

Jon Mark (born John Michael Burchell) teamed up with his school friend Alun Davies—later a member of Cat Stevens’ backing band—in 1963 to produce the album Relax Your Mind under Decca Records.

Starting in 1965, Mark played a significant role in shaping Marianne Faithfull’s initial three albums—Marianne Faithfull, Come My Way, and North Country Maid—by composing and arranging songs such as "Come My Way" and "Lullaby."

In 1968, Mark and Davies formed the brief-lived group Sweet Thursday, which released a single album through Fontana Records. Despite featuring musicians like Nicky Hopkins, the album received minimal promotional support from the label, and the band did not embark on tours.

Johnny Almond (born John Albert Almond on 20 July 1946) had previously performed with Zoot Money's Big Roll Band and the Alan Price Set, alongside extensive session musician work. In 1969, he established Johnny Almond's Music Machine and recorded two solo albums: Patent Pending and Hollywood Blues, enlisting prominent session artists such as Joe Pass and Earl Palmer.

The partnership between Almond and Mark began through their involvement on John Mayall’s post-Bluesbreakers projects The Turning Point (1969) and Empty Rooms (1969), which eventually led to the formation of Mark-Almond.

Mark-Almond

The initial two albums by Mark-Almond—Mark-Almond (1970) and Mark-Almond II (1971)—were issued under Bob Krasnow’s Blue Thumb label, distinguished by their embossed envelope-style album covers. The debut featured tracks like "The Ghetto" and an extended 10-minute piece titled "The City," highlighting a variety of musical styles and instrumental expertise.

Their sophomore release contained the regional success "One Way Sunday," which received considerable airplay on U.S. album-oriented rock stations such as Boston’s WBCN and Baltimore’s WAYE, peaking at #94 on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently, the band signed with Columbia Records, producing Rising (1972) along with the live record Mark-Almond 73 (1973). By this period, their lineup had expanded to seven members.

In October 1972, Jon Mark experienced a serious accident in Hawaii that resulted in the loss of most of his left-hand ring finger. Despite this injury, the track "What Am I Living For" from Mark-Almond 73 became their most frequently broadcast song on U.S. radio. Nevertheless, the group dissolved later that year.

Following this, Mark released a solo effort titled Song for a Friend in 1975. The duo reunited to issue To the Heart in 1976 on ABC Records, featuring drummer Billy Cobham. Their collaborators included drummer Dannie Richmond, violinist Greg Bloch, keyboardist Tommy Eyre, and bassist Roger Sutton. After signing with A&M Records in 1978, they released Other Peoples Rooms, which contained a newly recorded version of "The City," although it did not achieve commercial success. After two additional albums—Tuesday in New York (1980) and the live album The Last & Live (1981)—Mark-Almond disbanded once more. They briefly regrouped in 1996 to produce the CD Night Music, which featured keyboardist Mike Nock.

Later years

In the mid-1980s, Mark moved to New Zealand, where he created a series of successful solo ambient albums under his White Cloud label and took part in projects centered on traditional Celtic and folk music. In 2004, an album featuring Tibetan monk chants that he produced alongside his wife, Thelma Burchell, earned a Grammy Award.

Almond resided in the San Francisco Bay Area until he passed away from cancer on 18 November 2009 at the age of 63. He occasionally joined local bar jam sessions, some of which were recorded, including a memorable version of "Stormy Monday".

Discography

  • 1970: Mark-Almond (Blue Thumb) (BB #154)
  • 1971: Mark-Almond II (Blue Thumb) (BB #87)
  • 1972: Rising (Columbia) (BB #103)
  • 1973: Mark-Almond 73 (Columbia) (BB #73)
  • 1973: The Best Of Mark-Almond (Blue Thumb) – compilation (BB #177)
  • 1976: To The Heart (ABC) (BB #112)
  • 1978: Other Peoples Rooms (Horizon/A&M) – AUS No. 72
  • 1980: Tuesday in New York (Line)
  • 1981: The Last & Live (Line) – live album
  • 1981: Best Of...Live (Pacific Arts) – compilation
  • 1991: The Best Of (Rhino) – compilation
  • 1996: Nightmusic (White Cloud)

Personnel

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